Over Labor Day weekend the family hopped into the van and traveled east across Missouri to Troy to celebrate our friend Jason's 40th birthday. This was also Nathaniel's first opportunity to meet Jason and Carri. Everyone had a great time at the party, and Jason received a lot of presents, mostly involving beer and St. Louis Cardinals merchandise.
Sunday we traveled to Chesterfield to visit the Butterfly House with Todd, Corey, Jason, and Carri. It was a fun experience to be in a tropical conservatory with nearly 2000 butterflies flying all around.
Below are 28 photos from the weekend. Low-bandwidth viewers should click the green and white "Play" button for an inline slideshow. For you broadband users who are able to enjoy the full-screen slideshow, please click the text link below.
Here is a video of butterflies fluttering through the conservatory:
-Scott
Nathaniel:
Baby Deuce:
Baby Deuce:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Master Walker
A couple weeks ago we posted that Nathaniel had made it a priority to learn how to walk. Well, he's been practicing hard, and I'm happy / proud / afraid to report that he is now a master walker. In this video shot Tue 9/8, he does it all: cries, walks, and throws a ball to Dad.
-Scott
-Scott
Monday, August 31, 2009
Best of Nathaniel - August
Another busy month has come and gone already for Nathaniel. Highlights of the month included visiting his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and critters in Minnesota, swinging, sliding, swimming, and walking. Although his walking is still a work very much in progress, several times in the past week he has walked more steps at once than his age in months -- 11.
Because our dialup viewers have been unable to view the full-screen slideshows included in last month's posts, I am bringing back the inline slideshow for those folks. For you broadband users who are able to enjoy the full-screen slideshow, please click the text link below.
Nathaniel says "I'm outta here" until next month in this video:
-Scott
Because our dialup viewers have been unable to view the full-screen slideshows included in last month's posts, I am bringing back the inline slideshow for those folks. For you broadband users who are able to enjoy the full-screen slideshow, please click the text link below.
Nathaniel says "I'm outta here" until next month in this video:
-Scott
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Nathaniel's baby steps
Ever since we returned home from vacation Wednesday evening, Nathaniel has been a bundle of energy. Apparently he has also decided that it's time to learn how to walk, because he's been pestering Mom & Dad nonstop to hold his hands while he practices. He is also getting braver about taking steps without support... For an example, check out the hilarious video below. The fun really kicks in at the 1:20 mark.
As long as I'm posting cute videos, here's one of Nathaniel and Mom playing a game of "Where's Nathaniel?"... Enjoy!
-Scott
As long as I'm posting cute videos, here's one of Nathaniel and Mom playing a game of "Where's Nathaniel?"... Enjoy!
-Scott
Friday, August 21, 2009
Summer vacation in Minnesota
We loaded the van Saturday, August 15 and headed north for a few days visiting various Heinzes in central Minnesota. We spent Saturday night at the Lisson home in Becker, where we were introduced to 6 1/2 month old Taylor. Nathaniel enjoyed playing with both her and big puppy Jake. The adults (including Chris' brother Todd) devoured grilled T-bones for dinner; the kids ate some pureed baby food.
On Sunday most of the Heinzes congregated in Elrosa for a sausage/potato/corn boil. We were pleased to meet 7 month old Evelyn, who was accompanied by her parents, cousin Loren and Poofergirl Stephanie Heinze. The kids had a great time at the school playground, and Scott got a workout hoisting Sara across the high bars. After configuring Grandma's new Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop and scarfing down a supper of grilled pork chops, we headed north 10 miles for our accommodations at the AmericInn in Sauk Centre. I had never stayed at an AmericInn, and I was impressed: clean, quiet rooms, comfortable bed, in-room fridge and microwave, good free breakfast bar, and very nice indoor pool.
On Monday morning we stopped at Walmart to pick up a wireless router for Grandma, and then it was off to the Heinze century farm south of Elrosa. The whole family was there to greet us: Joe and Julie (aka Nathaniel's godparents), kids Shawn and Teresa, and a menagerie of roosters, hens, cats, dog, cows, and calves. After a dinner of grilled pork chops and boiled sweet corn, we met the calves, cows, and cats. We said goodbye, and then headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Elrosa to configure the router and enjoy a supper of grilled chicken.
On Tuesday morning we hung around the motel so that Nathaniel could swim in the pool with Mom. Then we headed back to Elrosa, dropped Nathaniel off at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and Ann and I walked to Bucky's Bar for lunch. After saying goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa, we drove to St. Joseph to visit the Hommerding clan. Everyone was there: Brenda, Glenn, boys Matt, Jeremy, and Tyler, and dog Dixie. We were fed yet another supper of grilled brats, fresh sweet corn that we brought from the Heinze farm, and cake made by Chef Tyler. Everyone loved the cake -- even Dixie!
On Wednesday we made the 8 1/2 hour drive home. As often happens when we visit Minnesota, the trip was complicated by horrible weather -- this time a deluge of Biblical proportions. Several times I was forced to slow way down to avoid hydroplaning and vehicles parked on the shoulder of the highway futilely waiting out the downpour. Fortunately, the "Ann Van" also makes for a good boat!
Click below to view 33 photos from the trip.
View a video of a cow getting fresh with Nathaniel.
-Scott
On Sunday most of the Heinzes congregated in Elrosa for a sausage/potato/corn boil. We were pleased to meet 7 month old Evelyn, who was accompanied by her parents, cousin Loren and Poofergirl Stephanie Heinze. The kids had a great time at the school playground, and Scott got a workout hoisting Sara across the high bars. After configuring Grandma's new Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop and scarfing down a supper of grilled pork chops, we headed north 10 miles for our accommodations at the AmericInn in Sauk Centre. I had never stayed at an AmericInn, and I was impressed: clean, quiet rooms, comfortable bed, in-room fridge and microwave, good free breakfast bar, and very nice indoor pool.
On Monday morning we stopped at Walmart to pick up a wireless router for Grandma, and then it was off to the Heinze century farm south of Elrosa. The whole family was there to greet us: Joe and Julie (aka Nathaniel's godparents), kids Shawn and Teresa, and a menagerie of roosters, hens, cats, dog, cows, and calves. After a dinner of grilled pork chops and boiled sweet corn, we met the calves, cows, and cats. We said goodbye, and then headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Elrosa to configure the router and enjoy a supper of grilled chicken.
On Tuesday morning we hung around the motel so that Nathaniel could swim in the pool with Mom. Then we headed back to Elrosa, dropped Nathaniel off at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and Ann and I walked to Bucky's Bar for lunch. After saying goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa, we drove to St. Joseph to visit the Hommerding clan. Everyone was there: Brenda, Glenn, boys Matt, Jeremy, and Tyler, and dog Dixie. We were fed yet another supper of grilled brats, fresh sweet corn that we brought from the Heinze farm, and cake made by Chef Tyler. Everyone loved the cake -- even Dixie!
On Wednesday we made the 8 1/2 hour drive home. As often happens when we visit Minnesota, the trip was complicated by horrible weather -- this time a deluge of Biblical proportions. Several times I was forced to slow way down to avoid hydroplaning and vehicles parked on the shoulder of the highway futilely waiting out the downpour. Fortunately, the "Ann Van" also makes for a good boat!
Click below to view 33 photos from the trip.
View a video of a cow getting fresh with Nathaniel.
-Scott
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